Happy Valentine's Day to all!
I've been overwhelmed by the commercials and the marketing of Valentine's Day, all in the name of "love"...to me it looks a lot like the world's definition of love.
I think on this day that everyone is focused on love, we should look at the true meaning of love:
John 3:16-17: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 13:34-35: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Joh 15:12-13: This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
And Paul's beautiful writing concerning charity/love:
1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
1Co 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
I'm preaching to the choir everytime I write...God uses these lessons to convict my heart...the past couple of weeks, I have had some negative feelings in my heart. But God used the prophet Jeremiah to show us the true nature of our hearts:
Jer 17:9-10 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
And as I have learned before and the Lord will keep reminding me...our words and promises are often empty. Only His Word stands strong and true. Instead of talking about it, we need to live it. I need to live it.
And the only way to love anyone at all is to move out of the way and let Jesus love them through us. We can't do it - only He can.
Happy Valentine's Day, to all of you! Let His Love shine through and change your heart. It's a process, but God's plan is to make each of us more like His Son. Open your heart and let Him in...let Him change it so that the world only sees Him.
